“Looking Out For Number One”

Democratic 20th CD candidate Kirsten Gillibrand released a new TV ad, which begins running today, that hits U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, for voting in favor of congressional pay raises while voting against an amendment that would have provided a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The whole pay raise issue has been a favorite of Democats this year, but this is the first time I’ve seen it used in this manner. Usually, it’s more along the lines of “so-and-so Republican voted against a minimum wage increase, yet for increasing his own pay.”

Members of Congress actually don’t vote for FOR a pay raise – they get that automatically, unless enough of them vote to reject it. Instead, there’s an up-or-down annual vote on whether to accept the raise.

This offers people cover on a perennial political hot potato, and the opportunity for a symbolic “no” vote without much concern that they might actually have to forgo a pay increase.

Handy, no?

The Gillibrand campaign noted that Sweeney’s pay has gone up $31,800 since he was elected to the House in 1998, and he has voted in favor of the increase every year. He now makes $168,500.

I have yet to receive a response from the Sweeney campaign. But, I imagine they will say the $1,500 bonus was offered in a Democatic amendment attached to some other bill in an effort by the minority to force the majority on the record in a politically damanging way.

UPDATE: Sweeney spokeswoman Maureen O’Brien Donovan accused Gillibrand of using a “horrific soundbite that exploits our military personnel for Ms. Gillibrand’s political gain and attempts to scare the public into thinking Sweeney doesn’t support our troops. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Donovan noted that Sweeney has voted in favor of legislation that would provide a monthly pay increase for soldiers in imminent danger and funding for a family separation allowance.

Script of the new ad:

Narrator: John Sweeney: Always looking out for number one.

Sweeney has voted to give himself a pay raise every year he’s been in Washington.

But when he had a chance to give a bonus pay to our troops in Iraq, Sweeney voted ‘NO’.

That’s right; Sweeney said ‘YES’ eight different times to pay raises for himself, but ‘NO’ to a bonus for our troops.

Sweeney is always looking out for number one, so when he has to choose between fighting for you or himself, what number do you think you’ll be?